X-Message-Number: 3897
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: Re: CryoNet #3878 - #3881
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 1995 18:59:43 -0800 (PST)



A note for Mr Nemko:

Basically I agree with Ralph Merkle's answer: it's very unlikely that the
techniques for revival will be expensive, and similarly unlikely that people
will be revived in an injured state.

I will say one thing, meant for anyone considering suspension. The notion of
nanotechnology was important for bringing out the point that the SIZE of
systems which we may have to operate on to revive someone is not an issue.
However for cryonics the fact that most current biotechnology, such as the
now common technique of using modified viruses to transplant genes from one
animal/plant to another, qualifies as nanotechnology just as much as other
forms of nanotechnology. In terms of how advanced they are, they are much
more advanced that most other branches of nanotechnology.

When we consider the issues involved in suspension of human bodies and brains,
we inevitably must think carefully about the biology involved. There is no 
way to escape that: even if you wish to someday revive in or as a computer 
of some other kind, the fact that we as yet don't understand human brains
anywhere near as well as we would need to be able to transfer you into that
computer will remain. I personally strongly recommend anyone interested in
cryonics suspension to try to keep on top of the biology also, at least 
in a way that helps you to understand what's happening. And given what even
our primitive biotechnology has produced, I would suspect that the nano-
technology that revives you will have many large and essential parts 
consisting of highly modified and/or deliberately designed nanorobots ...
of biological materials only.

			Long long life,

				Thomas Donaldson



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